Janice Stayianos
May 27, 1939 - March 08, 2024
Visitation: Monday, 2-4 & 6-8PM, Devlin Funeral Home, 806 Perry Hwy., Pgh, PA 15229
Service: Tuesday, 10AM, St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral, 8290 Thompson Run Rd., Pgh, PA 15237
Janice D. Stayianos
May 27, 1939-March 8, 2024
Janice Stayianos (née Trbovich), 84, of Highland Park, Pittsburgh, passed away on March 8, 2024. Loving and beloved wife of Spiro Stayianos for 32 years; daughter of Mitchell and Claudia Trbovich; sister of Laraine Jean (Alig), Rosalind and Cynthia Trbovich. Survived by Cynthia. Jan grew up in the Laurel Gardens neighborhood of Pittsburgh. She attended Westview (now North Hills) High School where she made many lifelong friends and was an accomplished musician. Graduating in 1957, she went on to do a bit of modeling and to attend business school in downtown Pittsburgh. She worked for the Art Department in the Pittsburgh Board of Education for twenty-one years, and she remained a lover of learning and the arts throughout her life. Jan spoke fondly of good times at work and after work during those years, becoming, for example, a lifelong member of the fun-loving WASPS (Women Always Stung for Presents Society). During this time, she traveled widely in the US and in the world, and she enjoyed many adventures with friends and family. In 1978, Jan married Spiro, the love of her life. They lived in a house that he had won in a card game, and for six years they were the hardworking proprietors of the South Side Greek bar and music venue Zorba’s. Jan and Spiro crisscrossed the US as he played his bouzouki in various cities, and they spent time in Greece as well. Jan and Spiro enjoyed gardening and cooking together, and they always had a dog or two in the house. No pet was ever more loved than Shadow, Athena, Eleni and Irini. Beginning in the early 1980’s Jan ran a home-based childcare business, her gift to many, many families for 25 years. She raised multiple generations of kids, whom she treated as her own children. She would say that, although she had never had children of her own, she was “everybody’s mother.” Indeed, Jan was a beloved member of many families, becoming an honored guest at innumerable birthdays, graduations, weddings and baby showers! And to many of these events, one could be sure that she would bring one of her beautiful, custom-decorated cakes. Jan was an important member of her neighborhood, serving as a Crime Watch liaison for her street and as a member of the Highland Park Community Club. For many years, her Greek food sale was a mainstay of the annual Highland Park yard sale. Jan was also a devoted and hardworking member of her church, St Alexander Nevsky, where she helped make many thousands of cookies for their Christmas cookie walks, as well as “pinching” an infinite number of pierogies for the year-round fundraising efforts of the church women’s organization. Jan was an engaged lover of life and a kind and generous human being. She embraced all people; she enjoyed everyone she encountered, and she inspired that same generosity of spirit and joy everywhere she went. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Animal Friends of Pittsburgh. Friends will be received on Monday from 2-4 & 6-8PM at DEVLIN FUNERAL HOME, 806 Perry Hwy., Pgh, PA 15229. Funeral Services will be on Tuesday 10AM in St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral, 8290 Thompson Run Rd., Pgh, PA 15237. Everyone is asked to meet at the church.
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Jan was such an inspiration to those that were blessed to have her in their lives. We love you and we will miss you.
My condolences on the passing of Jan. She was a dear friend of my sister, Ann, and was like a member of our family. May she rest in peace.
Jan will always be in our hearts 💕